Soul Brand (Rune Sword):

Soul Brand might be a rune weapon of modern construction or might be
of ancient origin which was lost for Millenniums. Very little has been
archived about the weapon and it is not well known. While most scholars
who know of the weapon believe it is of recent origin, a sizeable minority
think the weapon is truly ancient. Virtually all believe that Soul Brand
was created by an incredibly powerful Rune Smith who is the half demon
son of the Demon Lord Mephisto. Mephisto is known to have created many
half demon children with mortal humans. Some of these children have become
incredibly powerful on their own right and could almost be considered lesser
demon lords themselves. The Rune Smith who created Soul Brand is considered
to be especially powerful and stories about him go back to virtually the
beginning of recorded history. Some scholars believe that he created the
weapon on his own abilities while others believe he had the malign assistance
of his demon father. Most stories tell that a powerful demon is trapped
within the blade although scholars differ about the name of the demon who
is trapped in the blade. Some consider the demon to have been an enemy
of Mephisto while others consider that it was a demon who stood in the
way of the Rune Smith's relationship with his father.

The sword is fairly plain and is definitely a weapon for killing. It
is single bladed and comes to a point for stabbing as well as slashing.
It is almost like a giant saber or scimitar. The weapon appear to be made
from a very dark red metal with huge runes deeply engraved into the blade
and handle of the sword. The runes appear to glow from their own fire and
brighten to almost blinding when one of the sword’s fire warlock abilities
are activated. The weapon is a bit larger than most rune swords and is
approximately the size of most bastard swords although of a very different
style than most bastard swords. Even though unusual in design, it is very
well balanced and must be considered to be a masterwork weapon.

The personality of the sword is extremely evil and is definitely that
of a Demon but the sword is also an extraordinary master of deception and
trickery. It prefers wielders which are no psionic and those who do not
have strong mental endurance although can often corrupt those as well if
given enough time. Still, it is far more common that they actually figure
out what the sword is trying to do to them and get rid of the weapon. It
often has trouble with those who are extremely honorable and kind hearted
and avoids them as well. The sword prefers warriors and knights as possessors
and does not like bonding with practitioners of magic. A few individuals
have bonded with the sword and later have become witches. For some unknown
reason, the sword has a dislike for women and will only bond with one if
specifically directed by its master. For the first six months of the sword
being carried, it will pretend to be of the exact same alignment as the
wielder. It will only suggest the most minor of unprincipled actions in
most cases, nothing to get upset about. Just a bit of being playful and
get the possessor used to more corruptible activities. Once fully bonded,
it will start suggesting more evil activities. It will always go just a
step below what the wielder believes is acceptable behavior and slowly
corrupts the possessor. Eventually, when the wielder is significantly corrupt,
it will begin suggesting truly evil activities and begin suggesting that
the wielder should worship demons and Mephisto in general. Eventually,
the possessor will get to the point where he will follow all the commands
of senior worshipers of Mephisto. If they still have use, they will be
retained but otherwise they will be discarded.

Soul Brand is a soul drinker although he often will not reveal it to
him possessor until they are fully corrupted. Still, he will attempt to
consume the souls who are killed by his blade. Eventually, when the wielder
is firmly in the evil camp, he will try and get his wielder to slay his
former friends using the blade and consuming the souls of the possessor's
former friends. The sword considers it a means of permanently bonding the
wielder to itself. For offensive use other than the blade itself, the sword
commands a host of fire elemental abilities. In addition, Soul Brand has
several powerful clerical abilities including the ability to animate the
dead to fight for the sword or its wielder. If the sword considers that
the wielder might be squeamish about the ability, it will not reveal it
until it has corrupted its possessor. When a possessor falls to the point
of being considered evil, their eyes will begin glowing an evil red.

Links to wielder within 6 months of constant contact. Can sense each other
presences within 4 miles.

Gives wielder +1 on all saving throws.

Can be used to parry energy blasts at -6

Can be used by most alignments (Corrupts Wielder through time) but of Miscreant
alignment. If the sword cannot corrupt the person wielding the sword, the
wielder takes 2D4 points of damage each time they touch the weapon or 3D6
damage if creatures of magic.

Weapon Bonuses:

Due to superior craftsmanship, equal to Dwarven quality, +2 to Strike,
+3 to Parry, and +2 on Initiative

Weapon Damage:

1D6x10 per strike, does S.D.C. in S.D.C. Worlds and does M.D.C. in
M.D.C. Worlds. (Plus strength bonus if applicable)

Weapon's Special Abilities:

Fire Elemental Magic: P.P.E.: 100 recovers at a rate of 10 P.P.E.
for every three hours. Spell are cast equal to seventh level Warlock

Healing Touch: Heals 2D6 Hit Points and 2D6 S.D.C. (or 2D6 M.D.C.
in M.D.C. worlds). healing can be performed six times in twenty four hours.
Curse/ Remove Curse: Can add a curse or remove a curse four
times in a twenty four hour period . Adding a curse, use the spell minor
curse and the target gets a normal saving throw. Remove curse has a 56%
chance of success.
Turn Dead: Can turn 4D6 (4-24) dead 4 times per twenty four
hour period (4 hour duration) with 55% chance of success.
Animate/ Command Dead: can animate and control 2D6 (2-12) dead
4 times per twenty four hour period (4 hour duration) at 64% chance.

Soul Drinker Any victim killed by Soul Brand will have their
soul consumed by the sword and resurrection will be impossible if they
fail their saving throw (14 or higher).

Curse:

Red glowing Eyes: The wielders eyes glow red. This raises characters
MA to 22 but only to intimidate not to trust. This can also cause people
to try and kill the wielder because they think that the person is possessed
The person also has a strange aura that can be detected by magic and psionics
making people distrust them. The curse of glowing eyes will appear after
six months of possession and after the possessor becomes evil in alignment.
Those who are already evil will gain the glowing eyes as soon as they bond
with the sword while the eyes of others begin glowing after they become
evil.

Corruption:

The sword when found will appear to be the alignment and will slowly
attempt to corrupt the person wielding the sword. It cannot corrupt Principled,
Scrupulous with Honor, and Aberrant with Honor. Wielders of Taoist alignment
have +5 to saves against the effects because they realize the nature of
good and evil better than most. Wielders of Scrupulous and Aberrant alignments
get +2 to save against the effects because of their moral codes. The weapon
will wait until the wielder is fully bonded. When this occurs, the sword
will start suggesting actions that are just below their alignments. To
a scrupulous, it will recommend actions of an unprincipled nature. Once
per month, the character has to make a saving throw versus psionics. If
missed three times, the characters alignment moves down to that lower alignment
and the sword repeats its action. If the wielder rolls a modified 20 or
higher or if the character realizes what the sword is doing (This needs
to be decided together by both the game master and player), the character
can renounce the sword but the glowing eyes will remain until removed
If the sword fully succeeds in corrupting its wielder, the alignment
of the wielder will eventually become Miscreant. When this occurs, he or
she will worship Mephisto be unable to attack and will follow the commands
of him, his Clerics, and his Witches.